Avandia and Actos
Thiazolidinedione – pronounced THY-uh-ZOHL-ih-deen-DY-ohn – a class of oral medicines approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes that helps insulin take glucose from the blood into the cells for energy by making cells more sensitive to insulin.
Brand Name – Avandia, Generic Name – rosiglitazone maleate.
Brand Name – Actos, Generic Name – pioglitazone.
Avandia and Actos medications helps treat insulin resistance.
With insulin resistance, your body doesn’t use insulin the way it should. Thiazolidinediones help your insulin work properly. Then your blood glucose levels stay on target and your cells get the energy they need.
Warning:
If you have heart failure (very poor pumping ability of the heart), you should not take this type of medication, it can cause congestive heart failure or make it worse. Studies have shown that Avandia is associated with an increased risk for heart attacks and chest pain (angina) or discomfort from blocked blood vessels. Congestive heart failure is a condition in which your heart no longer pumps properly. Then your body keeps too much fluid in your legs, ankles, and lungs.
Call your doctor right away if you have signs of heart failure. Warning signs of heart failure include:
- Having swelling in your legs or ankles.
- Gaining a lot of weight in a short time.
- Having trouble breathing.
- Having a cough.
- Being very tired.
Possible Side Effects of This Medicine
- Congestive heart failure is the most serious side effect.
- Anemia, a condition that can make you feel very tired.
- An increased risk of getting pregnant even if you’re taking birth control pills.
- Women who take Actos, Avandia, or combination diabetes pills containing pioglitazone or rosiglitazone may have an increased risk of bone fractures.
- This type of pill doesn’t cause low blood glucose by itself, but your risk of having low blood glucose goes up if you also take:
- Diabetes pills that cause low blood glucose
- Insulin
Your doctor may ask you to take a lower dose of your other diabetes medicines while you take this type of medication.
You should talk to your doctor about whether to take this type of medication if:
- You have heart failure or other heart problems.
- You are on any medicines for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart failure, or for prevention of heart disease or stroke.
- You take insulin or nitrate medicines.
- You are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed.
- You have liver disease. If you take Actos or Avandia, your doctor should make sure your liver is working properly. Call your doctor right away if you have any signs of liver disease: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, dark-colored urine, or loss of appetite.
- You have macular edema – a type of diabetic eye disease.